The curriculum at La Escuela Fratney is based on the Common Core State Standards. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.
The standards are informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world, and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn. Consistent standards will provide appropriate benchmarks for all students, regardless of where they live.
These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards:
- Are aligned with college and work expectations;
- Are clear, understandable and consistent;
- Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
- Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
- Are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
- Are evidence-based.
School-wide Themes
Teachers will integrate the values, skills and content areas of the social studies curriculum into our four School-wide Themes – Temas Escolares at Fratney.
Fratney Social Studies Focus
The study of society is really what social studies means. It includes a wide range of topics. The MPS curriculum identifies 5 basic categories to help clarify components of our social studies curriculum:
*Geography
*History
*Civics and Government
*Economics
*Behavioral Sciences
Multicultural/Anti-racist Philosophy
In studying social studies through a culturally responsive lens at La Escuela Fratney, there are several points that educators and parents should keep in mind:
*In all aspects of social studies, multiculturalism and anti-racist perspectives will be infused. In a society as profoundly divided by class, race, and gender as ours, social studies for children must make reference to and encourage analysis of these divisions. Children are capable, based on their developmental levels, to begin to understand, analyze and act against these and other kinds of inequities and injustices in their world and society. We must, of course, present information and engage students in activities that are developmentally appropriate.
*Children learn best if content areas and curricular objectives are connected to their lives. Learning must be relevant. Given our diverse student population we have so many opportunities to make connections with students’ lives and build on their and their family’s knowledge and strengths.
*The development of critical thinking skills in children is a key goal of social studies curriculum. Students need to be able to “read” and understand their world and make independent judgments about it.
*Social Studies is taught through active learning at Fratney. While children need to memorize basic facts (e.g. they live in the City of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin) for the most part studying our society should be done in an active, experiential and exploratory way.
*Contributions of various ethnic groups, including all major geopolitical groups (African-American, Latino, Asian-American, Arab-American, Native-American and European-American) should be infused into the curriculum throughout the year with as many curricular areas as possible, including stories, literature, songs, holidays, geography, math problems, etc. At the same time we need to designate different areas of focus for different grade levels so that children are exposed to depth to all major cultural groups during their school experience at Fratney.